Button



(No Model.)

A. LEBLANC BUTTON. No. 543,029. Patented July 23, 1895.

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BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent No. 543,029, dated July 23, 1895. Application filedMarch 9, 1895. Serial No.-54=1,l13. (N0 m del.)

county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have.

invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Buttons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The present improvement relates generally to buttons, studs, and similar devices used for temporarily or disconnectingly securing two parts together, especially parts of wearingapparel or like articles. a

The invention consists, in a button, stud, or like structure, of a head adapted to engage an eye, loop, buttonhole-piece, or similar connecting part, and a base piece or plate acting in conjunction with said head to hold such eye or loop, said head and base being flexibly attached to each other, so that they tend to draw together and clasp the loop or other part held between them and which surrounds the shank of the head.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents, in central cross-section, one embodiment of my invention in the form of a button, the parts of the same being shown in normal position or disconnected from a loop or buttonhole. Fig. 2 is a like view with the parts in open position or as when the same are engaging an eye, loop, or buttonhole-piece. Fig. 3 shows a modification of the same.

Referring to the views in detail, A represents the head of the button and B the shank or stem of the same. This head may be of any suitable shape so long as it is larger than its supporting stem or shank, and is so constructed that it can readily be passed through and caused to engage a loop, buttonhole, or like connecting and disconnecting piece. Preferably this head will be substantially of the form shown, and in order to insure the head securely holding the engaging-loop it may be recessed, as at O, or otherwise shaped and adapted to the desired engagement with the connecting-piece. The material and method of constructing this head and shank, as well as the other parts of the button or stud, are not a necessary part of the invention. The

material may be of any suitable kind and the method of construction any that it may be desired to adopt. Usually, however, these parts are struck up from thin sheet metal, and I have illustrated the structure embodying the invention as made of such metal; but I do not in this regard limit myself to any particular form or method of construction.

D represents the inflexible part of the base or base-plate of the button, and which part acts in conjunction with and oppositely to the under face of the head to engage a loop, buttonhole, or similar piece.

E is a socket constructed in base D, and in which the head of the button normally rests, as shown in Fig. 1, when in the closed position. The socket also serves to assist in holding the part engaged by the stem of the button and between the head and base thereof; also this socket serves to receive the head and leave it when disconnected from an engaging-piece nearly flush with the face of the base, or at least not projecting therefrom so as to undesirably catch or engage with any other parts, as of the clothing of the wearer or any part that it is not desired should be caught by this head.

F is a spring-disk, which is held by the overturned edges G of the base D. This disk or plate is of thinner metal than the base D, which is practically rigid, being of any elastic material that will serve as a spring. To the center of this disk is fixedly attached the stem B of the head, and the plate is so bent or shaped that by its spring-tension the head is drawn toward the base. Holes 11 may be made through the base, whereby the button can be sewed, riveted, or otherwise secured to one part of the garment or to any other article.

Assuming the button to be fastened to an articlesueh, for example, as a garment or part thereof-also that another article or another part of a garment is provided with a loop, buttonhole, clasp, or other connecting part, and that it is desired to secure these two articles together, the wearer will press against the spring disk and cause the head of the button to separate from the base thereof, as seen in Fig. 2, whereupon the loop can be passed overthe head and around the stem thereof, and then the disk will be relieved, and under its tension it will draw the head tightly down upon the loop.

It is to be noted that the head of the button serves, as in the usual way, as a device for engaging the loop, as also it serves, together with the base of the button, as a device for clamping, pinching, or looking the loop, so that in case of the loop hanging loose or not being strained there would be no danger of it disengaging from the head.

In Fig. 3 the invention is shown in a structure of a stud-like form. Here the rigid base K carries the sleeve L, through which passes the stem of the head fixed to the spring-disk M, substantially as in the case of Fig. 1. In this form, however, the head of the button rests upon the sleeve L, which is of a length less than the least thickness of material that it is expected the stud will ordinarily engage. It will be seen that when this stud is in engagement with two or more loops or buttonholes the head thereof will press under the tension of the spring-disk upon the loop or bnttonhole parts and thereby closely confine the same. This action is highly desirable in stud-structures of all kinds, particularly because the stud is tightly held against the loop or button hole parts and does not project therefrom. At the same time the stud is adaptable to various thicknesses of material without lessening its efiicacy as a convenient, strong,

and certain engaging and disengaging instrument.

Various other forms of this improvement are possible, and I do not limit myself to any particular form, the essential feature being that by pressing against the base part of the button the head thereof may be caused to projcct from the base a greater or less distance, according to requirement, and that the material engaged by the head and the base will be pinched or clamped between the same by the action of the spring device, which normally tends to draw the head and base together.

What is claimed as new is-- 1. A button or like article, comprising a head, a stem, and a base-portion composed of a rigid plate and a flexible plate-the head being attached to one of said plates whereby pressure exerted upon the base will cause the head to project from said base as set forth.

'2. A button or like article comprising a head, a stern, a spring disk secured to the end of said stem, and a second disk, located above the spring disk, and centrally perforated to permit the passage of the said stem, as set forth.

ALFREDO LEBLANG.

Witnesses:

ROBT. F. GAYLORD, JAMES N. (JATLOW. 

